asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if a complaint was made by an official of his Department or of Bord na Móna that a turf merchant and carrier in Offaly removed turf from a bog contrary to the provisions of Emergency Powers (Restriction on Movement of Turf) Order, 1943; if he will state why the alleged offender was not prosecuted for removal of turf without licence; and if he will explain the circumstances of the investigation held concerning the activities of the turf merchant referred to.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Turf Offence.
Some complaints were made to my Department regarding alleged breaches of the regulations relating to fuel in the district mentioned in the question, but an investigation revealed what appeared to be convincing evidence that the complaints were without foundation in fact.
Is it not a fact that in the case of the particular merchant referred to in the question a number of reports have been made concerning breaches of Orders and regulations, amongst them the Emergency Powers (Restriction on Movement of Turf) Order, 1943? Will the Minister say is that because of the fact that the turf merchant in question is a Fianna Fáil county councillor distributing and racketeering in turf whatever way he likes?
Deputy Flanagan made a complaint about a turf merchant who is a political opponent of his. The complaint was that the man was selling turf to a firm in Dublin which he was buying from a producer in Leitrim. Investigation showed (1) that the firm in Dublin bought no turf from him, and (2) that the producer in Leitrim had produced no turf this year and that he had been unable to get turf.
These are not the facts.